128 Vice-Presidential Address : [.st^""n. 



agriculture, and to restrict the catching in the masses, as far as 

 possible, where bird-catching was particularly fashionable. This 

 idea found favour in almost the whole of Europe. Even Italy, 

 the greatest transgressor at bird-catching in the mass, declared, 

 in 1869, its approval of the principle. 



The time appearing opportune to draw up certain declarations 

 of principles to be adopted by the contracting countries, the 

 Swiss Federal Council, in 1872, proposed to summon an inter- 

 national commission to draft an agreement, a proposition which 

 was seconded by the German Government. The commission 

 never met. Some of the countries raised objections, and pre- 

 liminary negotiations failed. 



As Italy seemed the most difficult country to win, because 

 bird-catching there was of great importance as a means of 

 livelihood for the lower classes, one of the most prominent of 

 zoologists, Ritter von Frauenfeld, Curator of the Vienna 

 Imperial Museum, was despatched, in 1872, by the Austrian 

 Government to Rome to endeavour to agree on certain points 

 with Professor Targioni-Tozetti, the delegate of the Italian 

 Government. After an exhaustive treatment of the subject, the 

 two experts agreed to six general articles. The articles were 

 not received without much hesitation in Italy, v/here all the good 

 intentions of the Government were in vain. The feelings of 

 distaste among the people were unconquerable ; the prohibition 

 of the permanent large nets, so well adapted for capturing birds 

 in the masses, excited particular disfavour. 



Then came the International Economic Congress at Vienna, 

 in 1873, which afforded an opportunity for meetings of various 

 delegates and experts. In the Agriculture Section, presided 

 over by the Hungarian Minister of Agriculture (Baron de 

 Chlumetzky), one of the questions of first importance was — 

 " What measures are required for the protection of useful 

 birds ? " Some of the speakers who took up the cause were 

 among the foremost ornithologists and experts of the day, 

 including Dr. Frederick Tschudi (Swiss), who stated his convic- 

 tion that every useful bird — notably insect-eaters — should be 

 specially protected. Every year millions of little birds of great 

 value to agriculture went into the stomachs oi gourmets, therefore 

 the first duty to decide was what birds might be hunted. He 

 proposed the formation of an international committee, and 

 submitted nine rules or suggestions for consideration. Emil von 

 Marenzeller (Austria) approved of the idea of a convention or 

 committee, and submitted three further points for discussion, 

 also two lists — (i) useful birds; (2) noxious birds. Dr. 

 Alfred Brehm (Germany) also proposed important measures, 

 concluding his speech by advising the inclusion in the scheme of 

 popular teaching, or some means of acquainting the public at 

 large with birds, for, in his opinion, no protection could be more 



